THE ESTATE
The Vineyards
The Terroir - The soil
The vineyard of La Tour Melas is located in the village of Achinos, Central Greece.
The terroir of sloping terraces is composed of alluvial gravels of the Quaternary and rises up to 200 meters above the sea level, separated only by two kilometers. These gravels mainly consist of clays, sands, grits and limestone coastal conglomerates.
The subsoil, more intricate and showing on the surface, from place to place on the different rounded hilltops, is the reflection of a more ancient history of Greece with its marine sedimentary origins which were altered by fold plates. This subsoil can comprise schist, siliceous deposits and marly limestone dating back to the Mesozoic.
On the ten hectares that now compose the property of La Tour Melas, only three are growing red vines of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The first grapevines were planted in 2001.
The Climate
Typically Mediterranean climate. Mild wet winters, with hot and dry summers. Low rainfall between 600 and 700 mm. The impact of the sea is very important as the breeze brings humidity and maintains the grapevines cool during the day, whereas the rocky soil keeps the vines warm at night.
The terraces are Northeast facing. All these elements combined offer an ideal micro-climate.
Vine growing
- Farming: Organic with numerous biodynamic principles.
- Pruning: Guyot method.
- The Vines: Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 10 000 plants / hectare.
- Harvest: By hand. Parcel and intra-parcel selections.